Is your dishwasher suffering from bad breath, a greasy complexion, or an inability to perform effectively?
That gunk left in your sink and plug trap after hand-washing dishes is what your dishwasher has to deal with during a wash cycle. This clogs filters and spray arms, puts strain on pumps and impairs sensors.
Weekly: Top up your rinse aid dispenser to keep glasses streak-free.
Monthly: Remove and clean the drain filter with a brush and hot soapy water. Check the door seal, and remove goopy stuff.
Quarterly: Check the spray arms as their holes can get clogged. Your manual should show you how to clean them (a toothpick can work well).
Clean with vinegar to remove food, soap scum, grease and grime from the dishwasher and pipes. Fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with one cup of white vinegar and place it at the bottom of your empty dishwasher. This is important as most dishwashers run their drain pump at the start of a cycle, which would flush your vinegar down the drain. Run on a hot water cycle. If the dishwasher still smells, throw in a handful of baking soda and run it again.
While you’ll find specialist dishwasher cleaners at the supermarket, plain, cheap, readily available white vinegar works too. Caution: some manufacturers warn that vinegar’s acidity could cause damage over time. If in doubt, check your manual.
Trouble shooting: If you get an error code on the control panel, check your manual or turn to Google – often it’s a clogged filter (so water can’t drain) or a dirty sensor. Before calling your repairer, try thoroughly cleaning the dishwasher. It may resolve the issue.
Time to throw in the towel?
Even the best cared for dishwashers work hard, and eventually need to be put out to pasture. Manufacturers and repairers stock spare parts, so broken accessories like racks, seals, inlet valves etc. can often be replaced.
But worn out or water damaged electronic controls may be trickier to fix with older models. It’s still worth getting a quote from your trusted appliance repairer. Keep in mind that newer models can be both quieter, and more efficient in terms of both water and power consumption.
ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay, T: 09 360 8477, www.ecostore.co.nz
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Published 5 November 2021